Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building » Starre Vartanhttp://inhabitat.com
Green design & eco innovation for a better worldTue, 03 Mar 2015 20:52:35 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.1Amazing Natural Packaging: Eggs – What Makes Them So Tough Anyway?http://inhabitat.com/amazing-natural-packaging-eggs-what-makes-them-so-tough-anyway/
http://inhabitat.com/amazing-natural-packaging-eggs-what-makes-them-so-tough-anyway/#commentsWed, 16 Apr 2014 21:00:47 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=401396However you feel about eggs - love 'em fried with onions, hate 'em in anything, or are morally opposed to consuming them at all - one thing you can't argue about is that they are an incredibly effective package for embryonic animals of all kinds. They are]]>

However you feel about eggs – love ‘em fried with onions, hate ‘em in anything, or are morally opposed to consuming them at all – one thing you can’t argue about is that they are an incredibly effective package for embryonic animals of all kinds. They are so successful, in fact, that female animals as diverse as birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians all evolved eggs to mature their young outside their bodies, which presents a number of evolutionary advantages (and some disadvantages; namely that mammals, especially, like to eat eggs).

]]>http://inhabitat.com/amazing-natural-packaging-eggs-what-makes-them-so-tough-anyway/feed/0Packaging the Future: Edible Wrappers, Containers and Bags (Yum?)http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-edible-wrappers-containers-and-bags-yum/
http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-edible-wrappers-containers-and-bags-yum/#commentsWed, 05 Dec 2012 22:46:02 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=462606Here at Inhabitat we've been hoping for, and advocating, biodegradable packaging for years, but now designer entrepreneurs are thinking even bigger; how about packaging one could actually consume? Turning what was a waste product into something that could]]>

Here at Inhabitat we’ve been hoping for, and advocating, biodegradable packaging for years, but now designer entrepreneurs are thinking even bigger; how about packaging one could actually consume? Turning what was a waste product into something that could actually confer nutrition (and would degrade quickly if uneaten), could make litter a thing of the past. Several companies have been working on edible packaging over the last couple of years, and as the idea moves closer to reality, Time magazine even called it a ‘game changer’ for 2012. Read on for a look at the state of the art in edible packaging!

]]>http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-edible-wrappers-containers-and-bags-yum/feed/4Amazing Natural Packaging: Cork, a Sustainable Classichttp://inhabitat.com/amazing-natural-packaging-cork-a-sustainable-classic/
http://inhabitat.com/amazing-natural-packaging-cork-a-sustainable-classic/#commentsSun, 07 Oct 2012 05:02:35 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=444296Photo: Background pattern of wine bottles corks via Shutterstock
If you are involved in the creative community, you will have noticed the slowly-but-surely growing preponderance of cork as a material used in design. Just in the past few months, my boyfriend]]>

If you are involved in the creative community, you will have noticed the slowly-but-surely growing preponderance of cork as a material used in design. Just in the past few months, my boyfriend bought a cork iPhone case, I was coveting a beautiful cork totebag I saw at Brooklyn Flea, and just a week ago, in consideration of replacing my (very old and crummy) vinyl kitchen flooring from the 80′s, I came across cork as an eco-friendly option. I had seen cork floors used in commercial applications, but hadn’t thought about it before for my own home. Cork is everywhere, and, as I’ve quickly figured out – for good reason!

]]>http://inhabitat.com/amazing-natural-packaging-cork-a-sustainable-classic/feed/1Packaging the Future: REI “Unpackages” Five of Their Popular Productshttp://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-rei-unpackages-five-of-their-popular-products/
http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-rei-unpackages-five-of-their-popular-products/#commentsWed, 21 Dec 2011 21:28:08 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=325289"Before" example of a kids Novara bike: Smarter, lightweight packaging means most of the waste above is eliminated.
According to Eric Abraham, REI's packaging engineering manager, the future is all about "unpackaging" products. The company's ambitious goal]]>

“Before” example of a kids Novara bike: Smarter, lightweight packaging means most of the waste above is eliminated.

According to Eric Abraham, REI’s packaging engineering manager, the future is all about “unpackaging” products. The company’s ambitious goal is to reduce packing materials 35% by 2013, and some of those gains are going to be made simply by eliminating packaging altogether. “No packaging, simply product,” explains Abraham. And it all started with the customers, he says. When the company started offering in-store recycling of the big boxes that boots were shipped in, consumers leapt at the idea, and soon every store had piles of boot boxes to recycle. Very few people wanted to take the box home – they just wanted the boot. What followed over the next years was a radical rethinking of many of the current packaging designs – sometimes reducing waste, sometimes reducing weight, and almost always simplifying. Jump ahead to find more examples of what Abraham and his team at REI have done to make unpackaging a reality for the retailer.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-rei-unpackages-five-of-their-popular-products/feed/0Egregious Packaging Hall of Fame: Fast Food Restaurants That Defy Waste with Savvy, Sustainable Packaginghttp://inhabitat.com/egregious-packaging-hall-of-fame-fast-food-restaurants-that-defy-waste-with-savvy-sustainable-packaging/
http://inhabitat.com/egregious-packaging-hall-of-fame-fast-food-restaurants-that-defy-waste-with-savvy-sustainable-packaging/#commentsSun, 06 Nov 2011 05:06:06 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=306407One in four Americans eats at least one meal a day in a fast food restaurant. Besides it being an arguably high-calorie and low-nutrient choice (processed food loses vitamins and minerals at each step of shipping and preparation), not many seem to care. After]]>

One in four Americans eats at least one meal a day in a fast food restaurant. Besides it being an arguably high-calorie and low-nutrient choice (processed food loses vitamins and minerals at each step of shipping and preparation), not many seem to care. After all, even when calorie information is offered, it’s usually ignored (only about 15% of people will use the info to make a decision about what to eat). It’s no surprise then, that people who don’t care about what they put in their bodies don’t care how much packaging is left over after they’ve eaten. But some do, and they tend to be the same people who will write a letter of complaint (or write a blog post?). So, also unsurprisingly, those fast food restaurants that cater to more health-conscious consumers also have less volume and use more recyclable and compostable materials in their disposable packaging. While many traditional fast food restaurants have legitimately reduced packaging in recent years (including McDonald’s and Burger King), the three highlighted after the jump have done the most.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/egregious-packaging-hall-of-fame-fast-food-restaurants-that-defy-waste-with-savvy-sustainable-packaging/feed/0Packaging the Future: Can Plantable Seed Paper Give Way to a Blooming Garden?http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-can-plantable-seed-paper-give-way-to-a-blooming-garden/
http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-can-plantable-seed-paper-give-way-to-a-blooming-garden/#commentsFri, 30 Sep 2011 19:04:37 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=303220A memorial plant Card by Botanical Paperworks
I didn't think about my experiment through the fall and winter, and by springtime, I had forgotten I'd even planted the seed embedded paper. But then an amazing thing happened, there were unfamiliar plants growing]]>

]]>http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-can-plantable-seed-paper-give-way-to-a-blooming-garden/feed/2Egregious Packaging Hall of Fame: Why Toilet Paper Needs a Redesignhttp://inhabitat.com/egregious-packaging-hall-of-fame-why-toilet-paper-needs-a-redesign/
http://inhabitat.com/egregious-packaging-hall-of-fame-why-toilet-paper-needs-a-redesign/#commentsFri, 26 Aug 2011 21:54:42 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=290869Image via Wikimedia Commons
TP's Sustainable History
In the past, (and commonly today, in developing nations) people used their hands and water after they did their 1's and 2's - and in fact some still regard TP as less clean than a good post-loo wash]]>

]]>http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-is-boxed-or-bottled-wine-better-for-the-earth/feed/7Packaging the Future: Three Packages Worth the Resources They Usehttp://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-three-packages-worth-the-resources-they-use/
http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-three-packages-worth-the-resources-they-use/#commentsWed, 22 Jun 2011 03:30:14 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=259930In my column 'Packaging the Future', I've looked at the myriad ways the materials around us contribute to environmental pollution and human health issues (from manufacturing, use and disposal). I've suggested existing solutions to what I think of as "bad]]>

In my column ‘Packaging the Future’, I’ve looked at the myriad ways the materials around us contribute to environmental pollution and human health issues (from manufacturing, use and disposal). I’ve suggested existing solutions to what I think of as “bad packaging”, as well as some that are only supposition. But even though I love to dork out on new and old packaging fixes, there are a few spots where I don’t want to see the new overtake the old; where even though a more modern version of something might use fewer resources and be more planet and people-friendly, I still choose the vintage version. For a modern woman, I’m plenty nostalgic, but I also think that maybe, in some circumstances, certain things may be worth the resources they use.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-three-packages-worth-the-resources-they-use/feed/2Amazing Natural Packaging: Human Hair as Packaging?http://inhabitat.com/amazing-natural-packaging-human-hair-as-packaging/
http://inhabitat.com/amazing-natural-packaging-human-hair-as-packaging/#commentsFri, 27 May 2011 20:54:14 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=251736I've always had an overabundance of hair; when I was a little girl my grandma taught me to pull the wads from my Mason Pearson and throw it out the window. I lived on the end of a dirt road in a deeply wooded area, and she said the birds that would collect]]>

I’ve always had an overabundance of hair; when I was a little girl my grandma taught me to pull the wads from my Mason Pearson and throw it out the window. I lived on the end of a dirt road in a deeply wooded area, and she said the birds that would collect my hair and utilize it in their nests, as it was a very strong material. I never really believed her, but thought it was good fun to toss my hair outside and watch it float along the breeze into the trees or over the lawn. Lo and behold, the next year, I started to spot my long, curly (then-golden) strands in the nests of the songbirds when they fell to the ground accidentally or were abandoned in the Autumn. Turns out my grandma just knew what birders everywhere do.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/amazing-natural-packaging-human-hair-as-packaging/feed/7Packaging the Future: Could Paper Take Plastic’s Place?http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-could-paper-take-plastics-place/
http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-could-paper-take-plastics-place/#commentsMon, 23 May 2011 07:00:02 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=244630In our convenience-obsessed culture, no matter how many articles about slow food are passed along online or liked on Facebook, fast and easy vittles are still king. And most everything fresh in supermarkets (think salsas, cheeses, fruit salad, hummous and]]>In our convenience-obsessed culture, no matter how many articles about slow food are passed along online or liked on Facebook, fast and easy vittles are still king. And most everything fresh in supermarkets (think salsas, cheeses, fruit salad, hummous and yogurt) is kept in plastic containers, some of which are recyclable, and most of which are not. Even our cans are lined with plastic coatings – and now that they have been found to leach BPA into food and beverages (which is enough of a concern that even Coca Cola’s shareholders are demanding a change), I have been avoiding them, which ironically means more plastic containers. But what if there were an inexpensive, renewable alternative?

]]>http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-could-paper-take-plastics-place/feed/1Compostable Packaging Test: Natureworks Ingeo Corn Cupshttp://inhabitat.com/compostable-packaging-test-natureworks-ingeo-corn-cups/
http://inhabitat.com/compostable-packaging-test-natureworks-ingeo-corn-cups/#commentsTue, 26 Apr 2011 22:30:47 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=236249The corn cup, moments before I took it out to compost.
I went to the website for the cups, which are made by Natureworks, and my initial frustration with the fact that the cup hadn't broken down was allayed a bit by what is clearly quite a bit of thinking]]>

]]>http://inhabitat.com/compostable-packaging-test-natureworks-ingeo-corn-cups/feed/3Packaging the Future: Micromidas Makes Biodegradable Plastic from Sewagehttp://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-micromidas-makes-biodegradable-plastic-from-sewage/
http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-micromidas-makes-biodegradable-plastic-from-sewage/#commentsWed, 23 Mar 2011 22:08:42 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=229430Right now, 8% of the world's oil is used to make plastics -- and oil has to be extracted from the belly of the earth using extremely energy and cost-intensive processes. At the same time, the world's cities are constantly growing and producing more waste,]]>

Right now, 8% of the world’s oil is used to make plastics — and oil has to be extracted from the belly of the earth using extremely energy and cost-intensive processes. At the same time, the world’s cities are constantly growing and producing more waste, which is usually dehydrated and trucked off to be dumped. In a planet-positive double-whammy, Micromidas has figured out how to transform raw sewage into a versatile form of plastic that biodegrades in 6-12 months. The new company (they’ve only been around since mid-2008) accomplished the feat by harnessing microbes — specifically, bacteria — to produce a bioplastic resin, which can be processed into a malleable plastic.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-micromidas-makes-biodegradable-plastic-from-sewage/feed/0Packaging the Future: Biodegradable Planter Pots for Spring Gardeninghttp://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-biodegradable-planter-pots-for-spring-gardening/
http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-biodegradable-planter-pots-for-spring-gardening/#commentsTue, 15 Mar 2011 17:00:04 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=225266Over the last decade there has been a dramatic increase in the availability of biodegradable plant pots, and I'm finding them everywhere from my beloved Gilbertie's Herb Gardens (which sells locally grown, organic veggie seedlings and THE most gorgeous annuals]]>

Over the last decade there has been a dramatic increase in the availability of biodegradable plant pots, and I’m finding them everywhere from my beloved Gilbertie’s Herb Gardens (which sells locally grown, organic veggie seedlings and THE most gorgeous annuals and perennials) to the embarrassed-that-I-shop-there-occasionally Home Depot. If you have a green thumb, and want to avoid a heap of plastic where your garden is supposed to be, read on to check out some of the biodegradable pots that are available; and be sure to tell give your local nursery a thumbs-up if you notice they are using some of these options (consumer praise – and criticism – works!)

Many of us don’t give our skin much thought — except when it seems to betray us. Teenage acne, painful sunburns, scratchy winter dryness and mosquito bites alert us whenever our body’s largest organ is uncomfortable or misbehaving. But these superficial concerns tend to make us forget how the very top layer of our skin is an amazing example of Mother Nature’s brilliant design plan; it is our first defense against, well, everything. From protecting the body from germs and viruses to keeping us warm and cool and cushioning our interior organs, our skin is one of nature’s most brilliant packaging designs – read on for a closer look!

]]>http://inhabitat.com/amazing-natural-packaging-human-skin/feed/5Packaging the Future: Poop Paper is Some Useful Shit!http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-poo-paper-is-some-useful-shit/
http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-poo-paper-is-some-useful-shit/#commentsSat, 15 Jan 2011 15:00:02 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=206447When I mention paper made from elephant poo (or dung, if you prefer), most people get a horrified look on their faces. (If you've already heard of the paper, what was YOUR first reaction?) Everything from business cards to Christmas greetings can be printed]]>

When I mention paper made from elephant poo (or dung, if you prefer), most people get a horrified look on their faces. (If you’ve already heard of the paper, what was YOUR first reaction?) Everything from business cards to Christmas greetings can be printed on the stuff, which is a bit linen-y, quite soft, and takes color brilliantly. There’s not just one, but two companies that make ‘poo paper’; Mr. Ellie Pooh and Elephant Dung Paper both offer a number of printed and plain paper products. And yes, the poop is treated for any nasties as part of the paper-making process.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-poo-paper-is-some-useful-shit/feed/1Packaging the Future: The Road to Greener Packaging at Ben & Jerry’shttp://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-the-road-to-greener-packaging-at-ben-jerry%e2%80%99s/
http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-the-road-to-greener-packaging-at-ben-jerry%e2%80%99s/#commentsSat, 08 Jan 2011 17:45:25 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=201004Despite the fact that Ben & Jerry's was bought by Unilever a while back, it has still engaged in some pioneering work -- from encouraging customers to oppose GMOs to donating thousands each year to local charities, to buying brownies from a bakery that]]>

Despite the fact that Ben & Jerry’s was bought by Unilever a while back, it has still engaged in some pioneering work — from encouraging customers to oppose GMOs to donating thousands each year to local charities, to buying brownies from a bakery that helps ex-cons get back on their feet by providing their first job outside jail. Most recently they’ve committed to sourcing all of their ingredients through Fair Trade programs by 2012 (considering the quantities of chocolate, vanilla, coffee nuts, and more, this is a pretty big deal to farmers in developing countries where this stuff is grown). All of these initiatives took time to implement, and their packaging story is even longer — it has been evolving over the past 20+ years. Read on for an in-depth look at the company’s packaging and production process – complete with an exclusive interview with Andrea Asch, Ben & Jerry’s manager of natural resources!

]]>http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-the-road-to-greener-packaging-at-ben-jerry%e2%80%99s/feed/1Packaging the Future: Banana Leaves as Natural Packaging!http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-banana-leaves-as-natural-packaging/
http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-banana-leaves-as-natural-packaging/#commentsThu, 16 Dec 2010 00:24:24 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=192558Nature has had millions of years to come up with perfect natural packaging solutions -- brilliant designs made from elements as simple as water, sun and nutrients that keep liquids wet, protect cargo during transportation, and prevent mold or insects from]]>

Nature has had millions of years to come up with perfect natural packaging solutions — brilliant designs made from elements as simple as water, sun and nutrients that keep liquids wet, protect cargo during transportation, and prevent mold or insects from getting in. The purpose of our Packaging the Future series is to highlight how we can use nature’s examples to make low-impact designs for better packaging, and so far I’ve focused more on the pipe-dream than the practical. This week is different; banana leaves are a packaging solution that has existed for thousands of years, still exists today, and that could benefit the environment by simply expanding their use to new areas.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/packaging-the-future-banana-leaves-as-natural-packaging/feed/9Egregious Packaging Hall of Shame: Plastic Bags Truly Do Suckhttp://inhabitat.com/egregious-packaging-hall-of-shame-plastic-bags-truly-do-suck/
http://inhabitat.com/egregious-packaging-hall-of-shame-plastic-bags-truly-do-suck/#commentsTue, 23 Nov 2010 23:26:46 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=187661Each year nearly 380 billion plastic bags are used in the US -- any only 7 percent of them are recycled. The plastic scourge clogs waterways and takes hundreds of years to break down into smaller plastic bits (the bags don't biodegrade). They also often makes]]>

Each year nearly 380 billion plastic bags are used in the US — any only 7 percent of them are recycled. The plastic scourge clogs waterways and takes hundreds of years to break down into smaller plastic bits (the bags don’t biodegrade). They also often makes their way into animals’ bodies: birds and fish especially like to eat the pieces, which often look like food. These pieces can choke them, block their digestive tracts, and the toxins used to make the plastic often get absorbed into their systems. But it’s not all about the animals; cleanup also costs taxpayers money. According to the LA Times via Wikipedia, “In San Francisco, it cost $8.5 million in 2004 to clean up plastic bag litter. According to the California State Assembly website, it would cost $25 million a year to clean up California’s plastic waste.” Read on for a look at the plastic bag problem and ways that we can fight the plastification of our environment!

]]>http://inhabitat.com/egregious-packaging-hall-of-shame-plastic-bags-truly-do-suck/feed/6Compostable Packaging Test: Bambu Plates Breakdownhttp://inhabitat.com/compostable-packaging-test-bambu-plates-breakdown/
http://inhabitat.com/compostable-packaging-test-bambu-plates-breakdown/#commentsThu, 11 Nov 2010 23:49:33 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=183932This week we're thrilled to bring you the latest installment of our Packaging the Future compost tests, where we break down the real-life biodegradability of eco packaging. Although I started this series expecting less than stellar results (what with all the]]>

This week we’re thrilled to bring you the latest installment of our Packaging the Futurecompost tests, where we break down the real-life biodegradability of eco packaging. Although I started this series expecting less than stellar results (what with all the nay-saying regarding biodegradable packaging), I am now pleasantly surprised to say that we are two for two! This week we put the compostable Bambu brand bamboo plate to the test and found that it really does break down quite nicely – hit the jump for our in-depth report!